Department of Environment– Wildlife Division Wildlife Research Section Department of Environment Box 209 Igloolik, NU X0A 0L0 Tel: (867) 934-2179 Fax: (867) 934-2190 Email: [email protected] Frequently Asked Questions Government of Nunavut 1. What is the role of the GN in issuing wildlife research permits? On June 1, 1999, Nunavut became Canada’s newest territory. Since its creation, interest in studying its natural resources has steadily risen. Human demands on animals and plants can leave them vulnerable, and wildlife research permits allow the Department to keep records of what, and how much research is going on in Nunavut, and to use this as a tool to assist in the conservation of its resources. The four primary purposes of research in Nunavut are: a. To help ensure that communities are informed of scientific research in and around their communities; b. To maintain a centralized knowledgebase of research activities in Nunavut; c. To ensure that there are no conflicting or competing research activities in Nunavut; and d. To ensure that wildlife research activities abide by various laws and regulations governing the treatment and management of wildlife and wildlife habitat in Nunavut. 2. How is this process supported by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement? Conservation: Article 5.1.5 The principles of conservation are: a. the maintenance of the natural balance of ecological systems within the Nunavut Settlement Area; b. the protection of wildlife habitat; c. the maintenance of vital, healthy, wildlife populations capable of sustaining harvesting needs as defined in this article; and d. the restoration and revitalization of depleted populations of wildlife and wildlife habitat. 3. Role of Government. a. The Department of Environment provides input to the HTOs through our Wildlife Officers and Regional Managers of Wildlife. b. When requested, we supply criteria used to assess the applications to the HTOs. c. The timeframe required to process a permit is ~60-70 business days. i. 10 days to do summary letter, send for translation, and distribute to reviewers. ii. 40-45 days for reviewers to comment and address concerns (may prolong the permitting process if concerns are raised) iii. 10 days to compile information, write & get signed the approval letter and permit. 4. Glossary iv. WRP - Wildlife Research Permit v. HTO - Hunters & Trappers Organization vi. NLCA - Nunavut Land Claims Agreement vii. NWMB - Nunavut Wildlife Management Board viii. NRI - Nunavut Research Institute ix. RWO - Regional Wildlife Management Boards 1. Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board – Baffin 2. Kivalliq Wildlife Federation – Kivalliq 3. Kitikmeot Hunter’s & Trapper’s Association – Kitikmeot x. NTP - Nunavut Territorial Parks 1. Ijiralik – Rankin Inlet 2. Mallikjuaq – Cape Dorset 3. Katannilik – Kimmirut 4. Sylvia Grinnell & Qaummaarviit - Iqaluit 5. Kekerten – Pangnirtung 6. Kulok Park (Bloody Falls) – Kugluktuk 7. Uvajuk Park (Mount Pelly) – Cambridge Bay xi. NNP - Nunavut National Parks 1. Auyuittuq – Qikiqtarjuaq 2. Sirmilik – Arctic Bay/Pond Inlet 3. Qittinirpaaq – Ellesmere Island 4. Ukkusiksalik – WagerBay xii. NWA - National Wildlife Area 1. Polar Bear Pass 2. Coburg Island xiii. MBS - Migratory Bird Sanctuary 1. Seymour Island 2. Prince Leopold Island 3. Bylot Island 4. Dewey Soper 5. East Bay 6. Harry Gibbons 7. Queen Maud Gulf 8. McConnell River 9. Akimiski Island 10. Boatswain Bay 11. Hannah Bay xiv. NWS-Nunavut Wildlife Sanctuary 1. Thelon Wildlife sanctuary 2. Twin Islands Wildlife Sanctuary xv. NWP-Nunavut Wildlife Preserve 1. James Bay xvi. CPA-Caribou Protected Area 1. Beverly caribou PA – Kivalliq 2. Qamanirjuaq caribou PA – Kivalliq 3. Thelon River – Kivalliq 4. Kazan River - Kivalliq xvii. NCWA-Nunavut Critical Wildlife Areas 1. Bluenose calving area - Kitikmeot 2. Bathurst calving area - Kitikmeot 3. Beverly calving area (2) - Kivalliq 4. Qamanirjuaq calving area - Kivalliq 5. Dewar calving area- Baffin 5. Where do applicants/researchers seek information on wildlife research in Nunavut? Applicants can contact the GN-Department of Environment-Wildlife Division to request a copy of the application and guidelines. 6. Criteria for deciding what communities should be informed of project. Which communities and/or groups should be included as reviewers. Designated reviewers will be identified as those users of wildlife within the specified research area. a. Adjacent to or within a reasonable geographic distance of the zone, b. Any user group who would be directly affected by the work? (ie. fewer animals, fewer birds, cumulative overall impacts/effects, potential environmental contamination). c. Where no community or user is identified using the criteria noted above, the Department will act as the user group for the purposes of consultation. 7. What happens if more than one applicant applies to do research in the same area? The initial applicant will be given priority, unless… a. A past researcher applies to pursue on ongoing/multi-year project. (Note: Does not apply if applicant is late submitting his/her application.) b. The researchers can agree that they can carry on their work while not interrupting the other’s project and while not upsetting, harassing, or overloading the wildlife population in the area. c. The applicant does not have a valid scientific project. (ie. Does not support the goals of conservation). 8. When is a permit invalid? a. A permit is considered INVALID until the principal researcher (applicant) signs and faxes/sends a copy back to the Department. b. If the principal researcher, or any person working under his/her project, violates the conditions of the permit, it may be deemed invalid until such time as the Superintendent of Wildlife restores it. 9. What are the responsibilities of the research/project personnel working under a general research permit? All activities carried out by personnel under the authority, or on behalf of the principal researcher fall under the conditions of the permit. 10. Special/Additional conditions. All special conditions are considered part of the permit. Additional special conditions may be added at a later date, and will be in force at the time of issuance of an amended permit. Additional restrictions may be imposed after the issuance of a permit if such restrictions are deemed necessary. 11. Clean-up and restoration of the research area. Regardless of the expiry date of the permit, the principal researcher will be responsible for the cleanup or restoration (activity & cost) of habitat as deemed necessary by the Department of Environment – GN. 12. What duration of permits are issued? For short-term projects, the VALID date will cover the period of time from the project start date through to the end of the calendar year in which the research is occurring. For longer projects, such as those going past the end of the calendar year into the next year. A permit’s VALID date may cover up to a maximum of 3 calendar years. 13. What are the reporting requirements for research permits? Every permit holder must submit a summary of research which includes details on methods, sample size, results, and discussion. Reports should be provided to [email protected] by July of the year following completion of the research project. Full reports, one page executive summaries, and peer- reviewed publications are all acceptable formats for reports. 14. How does the Department deal with multi-year projects & multi-year permits? Per 2017 amendments to the Nunavut Wildlife Act, multi-year research permits are allowable. Research permits will be issued for up to 3 years. Studies exceeding 3 years will need to reapply for a new research permit, and their application should reference the previous research permit. Multi-year projects are still required to submit a report, as per their permit, on an annual basis. 15. How will addendums to existing research proposals be handled? a. The applicant must fill out a Nunavut Wildlife Research Permit application and note that it is an addendum to a previous application (reference the initial Research Permit number). b. The applicant must have the affected HTOs send/fax letters of support to the Department. c. If new work varies greatly from the initial application, the application will be considered as a 17. What effects are screened? -biological effects can include impacts upon terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals and their habitats. d. In cases where HTO representatives cannot be contacted by phone, fax, email, or by a Wildlife Officer, the RWO’s review and approval of the project will be considered to be on behalf of that HTO. This will only be accepted after it has been deemed that all reasonable efforts to contact the appropriate parties have been exhausted by the applicant. 15. What effects are screened? -the potential effects of accidents and malfunctions or acts of nature; -conflicts with established or proposed protected areas; -conflicts with priority areas identified by the communities; -benefits to local communities (e.g. employment, training initiatives); -Cumulative effects; these can include any effect which arises through project activities, which when combined with those of other past, existing and future projects and activities creates a negative impact. 16. Screening Determination Once a screening has been completed, the Departmental Wildlife Biologist will make the following recommendations to the Superintendent of Wildlife: - identify all potential conflicts regarding the biological effects and impacts of the proposed research upon terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals and their habitats. - identify all conflicts with established or proposed protected areas; - identify all conflicts with priority areas identified by the communities; - identify all conflicts with traditional use areas and Inuit lifestyle identified by CLARC, HTO, NWMB, NPC or others; - identify all benefits to local communities (e.g. employment, training initiatives) - the level of concern and support for the project by all reviewers. For more information regarding the conduct of research in the North, please follow this link: LINK: http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/~agraham/ethics.htm .